The BIG Double Reed Day 2014

Snapshot image of the website for The BIG Double Reed Day

The BIG Double Reed Day is an annual event held at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and this year it’s scheduled for 16th November 2014. I’ve been every year since 2010 and I’ve got the T-shirts to prove it:

Participants are divided into those under 10 who have not yet passed their grade 3, those aged 11-18 who are grade 3+, and the last group is for adults. These three groups run on three different timetables, and in addition, the events are staggered for oboists and bassoonists so there are never too many people in one place at one time: this helps avoid a massive bunfight at lunchtime.

Workshops run throughout the day and the choice is substantial:

Baroque Instrument Try-outs

“Big Brother” Try-out (contrabassoon/cor anglais)

Contemporary Techniques Workshop

Improve Your Articulation Workshop

Improve Your Sound Workshop

Reed-adjusting

Technique Troubleshooter

Additional Classes offered to students grade 6 – 8:

Audition Preparation

Baroque Performance

Music College Q & A Session

In the past I’ve played a baroque oboe, picked up some tips on how to warm up and practise effectively, attended several extremely useful reedmaking sessions, and participated in the playing workshops. There’s even a photograph of me with Alison Teale on the BDRD website:

…but I’m not sure if this was taken before or after I hyperventilated. I hadn’t had much sleep, I’d drunk far too much coffee and I got very nervous about performing – all of which meant I took in far too much oxygen while I was trying to play and had to stop. Everyone was very kind, although several people did point out that I’d gone ‘a really funny colour’. However, the very lovely and talented Alison Teale smoothed the situation over by talking about How To Avoid This Sort Of Thing and, in giving me a few minutes to calm down, she gave me time to get my breath back so I could have another go at playing.

There were others who made a far better job of things than I did: here’s Helen Martin, an absolutely lovely lady who goes to the BDRD every year and she always plays something in the workshops. In fact, Helen is often the brave soul who volunteers to go first.

This post is just by way of getting the information out there, and I’ll post a complete review after this year’s BDRD. There’s still time to sign up – just go to the website and click on ‘Apply’. See you there!

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Another quick note about me

I'm not a music professional, only a very enthusiastic amateur. The purpose of this blog is quite simply to share my own experience of playing the oboe in the hope that other players will find something useful here, or may even wish to contribute something of their own. Guest bloggers welcome.

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